PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Graig Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Nitro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graig Romero has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Romero
vs
Nitro

219 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Graig Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Johnny Nitro!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Ryoma Takatsuka and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Romero as Nitro shoots in.
Nitro goes for a double leg but Romero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romero continues to drive forward.
Nitro fails with the takedown

and Romero counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nitro!
Graig Romero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Nitro.
Nitro sneaks back into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero wants to pass to mount but Nitro is defending the position.
Nitro is trying to control but can't.
Romero really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nitro keeps working.
Nitro wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero is working for a submission of some sort.
Nitro trying to control but Romero postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nitro wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nice sprawl there from Romero as Nitro shoots in.
Nitro slaps away a takedown attempt from Romero, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nitro shoots in looking for a takedown. Romero tries to sprawl out of it but Nitro keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Romero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nitro shoots for a takedown but Romero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Romero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Nitro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Nitro after a bit of a struggle.
Nitro has Romero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Romero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nitro breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Romero has a takedown stuffed.
Nitro looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Romero is fending him off so far but Nitro persists. Nope, Romero circles away and we're back to standing.
Romero misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Romero backs off Nitro throws a huge counter combo but Romero manages to avoid it all.
Nitro misses with a few strikes there.
Nitro closes the distance and clinches up with Romero, looking for a takedown. Nitro pushes Romero against the cage but Romero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nitro looks winded!
Nitro shoots in but Romero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romero tries to counter by clinching up but Nitro breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Nitro pinned against the cage. Nitro gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nitro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Nitro thumps Romero with a low kick.
Nitro connects with a body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nitro.
Romero seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nitro shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nitro tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graig Romero dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Nitro.
Nitro scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nitro is looking for a takedown.
Romero tries for a takedown but Nitro manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nitro changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Romero fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Nitro wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nitro misses with a low kick.
Romero shoots for a takedown but Nitro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nitro throws out a counter right but Romero avoids it with no problem.
Nitro thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romero shoots in for a double leg but Nitro sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nitro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Graig Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nitro fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Romero avoids it really well and circles away.
Romero drops down looking for a counter takedown but Nitro sprawls and moves away.
Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Nitro.
Romero attempts a counter takedown but Nitro avoids it well and moves away.
Nitro tries for a takedown but Romero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nitro misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nitro is breathing heavily.
Nitro fails to land the takedown.
Romero appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Nitro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Romero shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Romero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romero lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitro works his way to full guard. Good work.
Romero lands a couple of digs.
Romero throwing strikes from guard but Nitro blocks nicely.
Romero throws an elbow that misses. Nitro uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romero's guard. Nice move by Nitro!

Nitro passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Romero missing with punches from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero regains full guard. Nicely done.
Romero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Romero trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Romero trying to control the position.
Graig Romero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nitro trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nitro must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero trying to keep a closed guard but Nitro is proving a slippery customer.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nitro wants to stand but Romero has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Graig Romero will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Romero shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nitro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Romero.
Nitro wants to improve his position but Romero is controlling well.
Romero winds up and cracks Nitro with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Nitro desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Nitro can do to turn this around?
Nitro is trying to get back to full guard.
Romero trying to control from half guard but Nitro is working away.
Romero drops an elbow to the side of Nitro's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Romero seems to be working for a kimura but Nitro defends the submission attempt.
Nitro is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nitro falls off balance throwing a combination

and Romero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Nitro looking for a takedown.
Nitro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romero jumps guard but Nitro turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nitro tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nitro lands an elbow inside that Romero shrugs off.

It looks like Graig Romero has been cut.

Romero drags the fight down to the ground.
Romero trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Romero looking for a sweep. Not yet Romero, not yet.
Romero is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Romero striking from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Nitro gets to his feet - Romero follows without any prompting.
Nitro is looking to land body kicks.
Romero tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Nitro defends well and Romero ends up having to push Nitro into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown but Nitro manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Romero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Johnny Nitro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Graig Romero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Graig Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nitro throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graig Romero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Romero, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graig Romero!